Background: Trunk stability has been identified as an important prerequisite of functional movement.
Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of core muscle contraction training on abdominal muscle thickness, balance, and gait ability in stroke patients.
Methods: Thirty patients with stroke were randomly assigned to two experimental groups and a control group. All groups received conventional therapeutic exercise program for six weeks. The experimental groups additionally trained trunk stability exercise with abdominal hollowing or bracing maneuvers within training time. Primary outcome measures were evaluated abdominal muscle thickness using the sonography. Secondary outcome measures were evaluated by the Functional Reach Test (FRT), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), 10-meter walk test (10MWT), and Timed Up and Go test (TUG).
Results: Compared with the control group, the effect of trunk stability training for the experimental groups on the abdominal muscles thickness change was observed (p < 0.05). The values in balance and gait measures, BBS, FRT, 10MWT, and TUG, showed significant improvement after the intervention periods (p < 0.05), although no significant differences were found in scores of gait and balance scales among groups.
Conclusions: Trunk stability training with selective abdominal muscles activation has beneficial effects on abdominal muscles, balance, and mobility in stroke patients. Our findings might provide support for introducing stroke rehabilitation.
Keywords: Stroke; abdominal muscles; balance; gait; rehabilitation.